alabaster

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a fine-grained, usually pale and translucent form of gypsum or calcite used for carving

   The sculptor chose alabaster because light passes softly through the stone.

2. 2
   adj

   made of or resembling alabaster, especially in being smooth, pale, or translucent

   The clear water gave her skin an alabaster appearance.

3. 3
   noun

   a creamy or translucent off-white color

   The walls were painted a warm alabaster rather than a stark white.

Common collocations

• oriental alabaster Adjective + noun

From Middle English alabastre and Old French alabastre, from Latin alabaster or alabastrum and Greek alabastos, originally a handleless vessel for perfume. Such vessels were commonly carved from the pale stone, so the container name passed to the material. The Greek word's deeper origin is uncertain.

Topics

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images